Foodie feast promised for Stokesley Tourfest

Organisers of Stokesley’s free festival to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de Yorkshire have announced plans for a special food market in the town as part of the day-long celebrations.

Stokesley Tourfest takes place on Sunday May 1st and will feature live music, rides, street entertainers, marquees on The Green, official merchandise stalls, a children’s treasure trail and parades along the High Street, as well as a large, outdoor screen showing the Tour de Yorkshire.

Stokesley is also highly regarded for its award-winning Farmers’ Market, organised by the Northern Dales Farmers Markets, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month, and some of the traders have got together to hold a smaller version at Tourfest.

Those confirmed as taking part so far include chocolate experts Chunk Chocolates, Scotch eggs producers the Clucking Pig, Indian food experts Asharun Spices, Crumble and Slice Brownies, Winnie Yorkshire Delight Jams and The Jar House which sells hot cross buns and bake-at-home kits.

Stokesley Parish Council, volunteers and local businesses have teamed up to organise the market town’s free Tourfest festival which is being headlined by world-renowned saxophonist Snake Davis, who has played all over the world with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, M People, James Brown and Ray Charles. Other artists confirmed include the Colin Holt Band, singer and guitarist Val Boyers, rising local star Amelia Coburn, Beautiful South and Housemartins tribute ‘Old Red Eyes’ Andy Johnson, Elaine Palmer, Doctor Brown and the BBC Young Musician of the Year Alexander Bone and his band.

The Tour de Yorkshire is expected to pass through Stokesley just before noon on the final day, Sunday May 1st, after setting off from Middlesbrough. The cyclists will take a gruelling 123-mile route before finishing in Scarborough.

Stokesley High Street will be closed to traffic for the whole day on Sunday with extensive car parking available on Stokesley Showfield, next to the Co-op.

Natalie Collins runs Chunk Chocolates and has organised the Tourfest food market. Natalie said: “We always get such a great response at Stokesley Farmers’ Market that we thought it’d be great to be involved with Tourfest. Lots of the traders wanted to be able to join in the festival so we’ve got together a small group of us and will be selling all sorts of goodies on the day of the Tour de Yorkshire.”

Local businessman Ian Blakemore, a parish councillor and one of the organisers of Tourfest, said: “We’re so pleased that some of the Farmers’ Market traders want to be involved in Tourfest. Natalie has done a fantastic job in bringing everyone together to really showcase what’s on offer every month at the regular Farmers’ Market which has won national awards. It’s yet another example of an attraction that sets Stokesley apart.”